Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↕ Inconsistent — reported as both higher and lower across studies, with no consistent direction |
|---|---|
| Category | Neurological |
| Also described as | Neurotrophin |
| Compared against | HGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Cognitive dysfunction |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| Source | Gean et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119456 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is reported
- BDNF in Major Depressive Disorder — ↓ reduced vs MDD patients vs healthy controls
See the cross-condition hub: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) across conditions.
Trials, interventions and tests
In clinical-trial registrations this marker maps to the outcome term Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (2 registered trials use a matching outcome measure).
Clinical trials using Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as an outcome
- NCT06171152: Study of Liraglutide (A Weight Loss Drug) in High Risk Obese Participants With Cognitive and Memory Issues (Suspended)
Outcome measure: Change from Baseline in Serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) after 8 Weeks - NCT07278206: Brain Stimulation in Long COVID (Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
Interventions studied alongside this marker
Hypothesis-generating links from trial outcome usage and literature co-occurrence. Not treatment recommendations.
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Personalised functional-connectivity-guided neuronavigated high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic…
Related Neurological markers in Gulf War Illness
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Mixed. Some studies report higher and others lower Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in Gulf War Illness compared with healthy Gulf War veteran controls, so no single direction is established. Source: Gean et al. 2021.
What symptoms is Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with Cognitive dysfunction. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
Is Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) specific to Gulf War Illness?
No. The same marker is also reported in Major Depressive Disorder in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.